After starting the season with four straight wins, St Kilda arrived at the bye 7-4 but produced its most impressive performance in a month to spoil Lance Franklin's 350th game.

Senior coach Ross Lyon was pleased with St Kilda's response after a disappointing showing against Hawthorn before the bye and his side's ability to perform after the week off. 

"It is always difficult out of the bye and I always stress a bit trying to get your prep right. Hawthorn were very good and we weren't at our best. Two out of three we played a style and delivered performances we weren't thrilled with," he said.

"We sent them away for six days, we didn't change what we had planned, we came back and delivered a sharp but brief review. The truth sets you free right? We processed it and had a really good week on the track. Opportunity to come away together as a pack and join in together and be together. 

"The ladder is important in the end, but it is an outcome of getting your process right and playing good footy. We always like to win, but ultimately you can't just define yourself by four points, as important as they are."

St Kilda key forward Max King continued his spectacular return from the shoulder reconstruction that wiped out the first half of the season, kicking 3.2 to take him to 11 majors from his first three starts in 2023. 

"Is that what he kicked, I'm hopeless. It is a pretty good return, isn't it? Especially in these conditions. I thought he had some half chances that he almost took and he is still building into it," Lyon said.

"I suppose I'm just used to very good players playing very good footy. That's why we talk about them and we rate them, but maybe I'm underestimating a shoulder reconstruction and eight months (on the sidelines). What's he played? Like four games in 12 months. There is probably some upside there."

St Kilda will face Richmond next Saturday night while Sydney heads to the Gabba to play Brisbane on Friday night.